Dev Update #2: What's Your Favorite Fishing System?

David here, letting you know that development is going swimmingly for We Harvest Shadows. I wanted to show off some of the new fishing system, but I also would love to get your feedback on the kind of fishing systems from other games you love. I really don't know the best direction to take this in, so some ideas would be really appreciated.

First off, when is this game coming out?

I get this question a lot, and I wanted to let you know that there is no official release date yet. I'm sorry that it's a disappointing non-answer, but I'm also grateful that people love the demo so much and want the full game ASAP. However, if I released this game as it stands, it seriously would not be fun or enjoyable. I want to make sure it's as good, fulfilling, and bug-free as possible, so I need more time (at least a year). I hope you understand, but the wait will be worth it. I'll try my best to keep you updated here on Steam, and you could always sign up for the no-spam newsletter on the website where big announcements get, uh, announced. Thank you so much for your support!

The Fishing Rod

I went back and forth on this a lot, but I feel like this "anti-cozy" farming game wouldn't be complete without a fishing system of some kind. We decided to bite the bullet and go for it, and it's really fun so far! There will be upgradeable rods with increased chances to get rarer, more valuable fish, and certain fish will only be found in certain bodies of water. Like most gameplay aspects in this game, you can sell the fish and use the funds to build up your farm.

There are so many little things that go into a game to make it feel good and satisfying. There's a lot of animation and sound work that has already gone into it, and the above GIF shows a physics tests we're doing when a fish is caught and they flounder around.

I also made a water cooler that can carry the fish around so you can throw them in the trailer to sell. And of course, since this is We Harvest Shadows and things tend to get a bit eerie, expect the unexpected too.

I need your help

I've done a ton of research and note taking on my favorite fishing systems in games. I grew up playing a lot of Zelda Ocarina of Time fishing, which was pretty relaxed and simple, but I'm also drawn to more complex systems. My question to you is: what are your favorite fishing systems from all of video games? Maybe you like it super simple like Minecraft, or do you like it a bit more in-depth like Stardew Valley or Dredge? Let me know what you think in the comments, it would really help me a lot.

Thank you for the support! I'll keep plugging away, and I'll do my best to keep you informed on development. Take care everyone.